Graham Potter will welcome back a number of important players for the encounter, but Chelsea will be without up to four players when they take on Everton on Saturday.
Following the World Cup, the injury list at Stamford Bridge reached its peak, with notable players being out due to chronic issues. Reece James and Raheem Sterling, for example, have both returned since their vacations and, despite recent difficulties, are both anticipated to be healthy to face Everton.
James missed the World Cup because of a knee ailment, then experienced setbacks before making a comeback last month. He then missed this weekend’s game against Leicester due to illness, although he and Sterling, who missed the weekend due to a hamstring injury, are anticipated to make a comeback.
N’Golo Kante, a midfielder who hasn’t played since the season’s beginning and missed the World Cup, is also returning, which is a significant plus for Potter. He won’t be – still needs more time to build up, Potter said last week, confirming his prospective Everton comeback. We might aim for Everton. I’m afraid not for tomorrow.”
Mason Mount is also expected to play against Everton after missing the game against Leicester despite having resumed training after suffering a lower abdomen injury. The expected timeline was disclosed by Potter last week, who said: “Mason will miss tomorrow’s game due to a problem with the bone in his lower abdomen. Although tomorrow, we hope it won’t be too long.
The fact that Thiago Silva, a Brazilian defender who is out until April due to a knee injury, is still not present may raise concerns despite the positive news. When the issue first surfaced at the end of February, Potter announced that the 38-year-old will miss six weeks of work, stating: “Thiago will be around that time [six weeks], not sure exactly.”
When Cesar Azpilicueta was carried off against Southampton last month, there was significant anxiety, and later, Potter acknowledged that he had sustained a concussion. The Chelsea manager has given Azpi a broad timeline for his recuperation, with a March date anticipated, but stated last week that regulations had not yet been satisfied. He added: “Azpi has made progress but is not through protocols following a head injury like that.”
Edouard Mendy, a goalkeeper who has only recently started training again after suffering a finger injury, is another player who is likely to miss Everton’s game. It might be difficult to restore his original position following this injury because Kepa Arrizabalaga seems to have stepped into it while he was away.
Armando Broja, the striker who has been sidelined until next season with a major knee injury, is the main long-term injury concern for the Chelsea team. He intends to capitalize on the auspicious beginning he had made to life as a senior Chelsea player by making his anticipated return from the ACL injury at the beginning of the upcoming season.